Ted Lilly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ted Lilly |
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Lilly with the Los Angeles Dodgers
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 4, 1976 Lomita, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 14, 1999, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 4, 2013, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 130–113 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.14 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,681 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Theodore Roosevelt Lilly III (born January 4, 1976) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999 to 2013. Lilly played for several teams, including the Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was chosen for the MLB All-Star Game two times during his career.
Ted Lilly's Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Ted Lilly began his professional baseball career when the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him in 1996. After playing for two seasons in the Dodgers' minor league system, he was traded. He moved to the Montreal Expos as part of a trade deal.
Playing for the Montreal Expos
Lilly made his first appearance in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Expos on May 14, 1999. He pitched in relief during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Later that year, on September 19, he made his first MLB start. He played in nine games for the Expos, starting three of them.
Time with the New York Yankees
In March 2000, Lilly was traded to the New York Yankees. He played with the Yankees for over two years. On April 27, 2002, Lilly pitched a great game against the Seattle Mariners. He allowed only one hit, but his team still lost.
Moving to the Oakland Athletics
Lilly then joined the Oakland Athletics in a trade that involved three teams. He became a regular starting pitcher for Oakland. He also pitched in the American League Division Series in both 2002 and 2003.
Years with the Toronto Blue Jays
The Athletics traded Lilly to the Toronto Blue Jays. In April 2004, he pitched a game where he allowed only two hits against the Minnesota Twins. That same year, he was selected to play in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game for the American League.
A memorable game for Lilly as a Blue Jay was on August 23, 2004. He pitched a complete game shutout against the Boston Red Sox. He struck out 13 batters and allowed only three hits in a 3–0 victory. In 2006, Lilly had a strong season, winning 15 games. He also had 160 strikeouts and a 4.31 ERA.
During a game in August 2006, Lilly had a disagreement with his manager, John Gibbons. After the 2006 season, Lilly became a free agent. He decided to leave the Blue Jays, looking for a "change in scenery." He then signed a four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Joining the Chicago Cubs
In his first game for the Chicago Cubs, Lilly pitched well against the Cincinnati Reds. He allowed only one run over seven innings. He also started the Cubs' home opening game at Wrigley Field in April 2007. Lilly had a good April, consistently pitching at least six innings.
During a series against the Atlanta Braves, Lilly hit a batter with a pitch in the first inning. He was then removed from the game by the umpire. In 2009, he was chosen for his second All-Star game, representing the Cubs. He later had shoulder surgery to fix some issues.
On June 13, 2010, Lilly pitched an amazing game against the Chicago White Sox. He did not allow any hits until the ninth inning. He gave up a single to the first batter in the ninth and was then replaced by a relief pitcher. The Cubs won the game 1-0. This was the longest Lilly had kept a team from getting a hit.
Playing in the World Baseball Classic
Ted Lilly was a starting pitcher for Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He pitched in two games during the tournament.
Time with the Los Angeles Dodgers
On July 31, 2010, Lilly was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had a great start with the Dodgers, winning his first five games. He finished the 2010 season with a 7-4 record and a 3.52 ERA for the Dodgers. This included a complete game shutout against the Colorado Rockies. In October 2010, Lilly signed a new three-year contract with the Dodgers.
In 2011, Lilly had a record of 12–14 with a 3.97 ERA in 33 starts. He started the 2012 season well, but then experienced shoulder pain. He was placed on the disabled list and had shoulder surgery in September.
Lilly returned for the 2013 season but faced more injuries. He was on the disabled list multiple times due to a strained rib cage muscle and a neck injury. After trying to return, the Dodgers decided to release him in August 2013.
Retirement from Baseball
After dealing with ongoing health problems, Ted Lilly announced his retirement from baseball on November 27, 2013. In March 2014, the Cubs hired Lilly as a special assistant.
Ted Lilly's Pitching Style
Ted Lilly was known as a "finesse pitcher." This means he relied on his excellent control and how his pitches moved, rather than throwing the ball extremely fast. He could throw several different pitches. These included a changeup, two types of fastballs (a four-seamer and a two-seamer), a slider, and a curveball. He often used his slider against left-handed batters. His other off-speed pitches were more for right-handed batters. He had a straight-over-the-top pitching motion.
Personal Life
Ted Lilly is married to Natasha, who is a veterinarian. They are very involved in supporting animal humane societies. Their son, Theodore Roosevelt Lilly IV, was born in March 2010.
Images for kids
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Lilly with the Los Angeles Dodgers
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Lilly pitching for the Cubs in 2007.
